As usual, I obsessively followed the annual SHOT_SHOW online and already had a wish list of yet unreleased AirGuns, and in 2016 or 2017, Crosman announced the PSM45, a somewhat Glock-like, 4.5mm steel BB, mag-fed, spring piston, recipricating metal slide for cocking the action and loading the next round, Air Pistol.
The best part was the wonderfully low price.
I think it looks like a blend of a .45Auto Glock frame and a Fabrique Nationale "FN" slide.
🔫
The PSM45 has a muzzle velocity rating of up to 190 fps, which limits the distance the shooter can shoot with accuracy, but for up to 20 feet, it is just fine for 5 grain steel BB's, like Hornady's Black Diamond anodized steel AirGun shot to punch holes in cardboard boxes with paper targets stuck to them.
My chronograph tests show that one of the pistols usually shoots between 195-205 fps, and the other pistol shoots around 170-180 fps.
I probably put too much AirGun oil in the gun the last time I cleaned & lubed it.🔫
That was a 200 fps spring piston single shot repeater and the following is a 450 fps Co2 powered semi-automatic pistol.
Both a based on .45 Automatic handguns, but they are very different AirGuns on the inside...
The Crosman GI model 1911BB is a full metal, blow-back action steel BB caliber 4.5mm Co2 pistol.
The only plastic is the lovely, faux walnut 1911 grip panels, and every other bit of this air pistol is made of metal.
The slide and frame are held in place with drift pins and not screws, which adds a higher degree of realism to the pistol.
Unlike the popular Tanfoglio Witness 1911, Swiss Arms P1911, Remington R1911 and others, the Crosman GI model 1911BB has an 80+ round shot count per Co2 cartridge, and has the power with a fresh Co2 to punch holes straight through a large Campbell's soup can, and will continue to punch entry holes for nearly the entire cartridge.
In order to achieve a high velocity, high shot count, certain compromises were made, like the slide doesn't blow-back very far, and the hammer moves with the slide, but doesn't have any function.
The GI model 1911BB is a DAO or "double action only" Pistol.
The recipricating slide has no part in cocking the action, instead, the trigger pull forces the barrel toward, which allows the magazines follower spring to push a round into the chamber, then the barrel is released and slams rearwards into the firing pin on the Co2 release valve, which fires the round out the barrel and towards its intended target downrange.
Most of the higher powered 4.5mm steel BB semi-auto Co2 pistols that I own have a similar design, like the Colt Defender, Swiss Arms SA941 and the Daisy PowerLine 415.
The blowback is still very snappy, with some genuine 'felt recoil' and the slide locks back after the last round is fired.
The traditional 1911 safety is non-functional, as is the grip safety, but it does move.
The GI model 1911BB has a common air pistol safety, placed on the right side of the frame, just above the trigger.
It's a great spot for a safety that helps with trigger control.
The slide can be removed easily by using a punch and mallet to pop out the two pins under the muzzle end of the pistol.
All in all, this is a sharp looking, great quality replica of the original John Browning designed M1911 .45acp handgun.
All the 1911 replica air pistols that are on the market which I am aware of are based on the upgraded M1911A1 design, and this is the only one that seems to be primarily influenced by the pistol that the US Army adopted in 1911.
